Israel recently announced the successful test of its Iron Beam laser weapon system that reportedly has the capability of intercepting rockets, mortars and anti-tank missiles. Called a game changer, it is claimed to be the world’s first energy-based missile defence system that employs a laser beam to strike down incoming attacks.
This is the world’s first energy-based weapons system that uses a laser to shoot down incoming UAVs, rockets & mortars at a cost of $3.50 per shot.
It was unveiled at the Singapore Airshow on February 11, 2014 by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with the final field tests taking place in May 2022.
It is likely to be fielded by 2023 and will form part of Israel’s multi-layered air defence system that presently comprises of the Iron Dome.
In between, Russia - Ukraine war, Russian armed forces have claimed that they used a laser weapon against a drone in Ukraine,
The laser system, which was reportedly on an armored truck, has been dubbed Zadira, which loosely translates to “Bully” in English. Defense officials first discussed the weapon during the Army 2017 defense expo in Russia.
Another one is from USA, The Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) consists of a 50kW-class high energy laser weapon module, a specialized radar acquisition system, a beam control system and targeting sensor mounted on a Stryker armored vehicle. DE M-SHORAD’s original emphasis was on protecting ground troops from fixed wing aircraft, helicopters, and drones of all kinds. Raytheon now says the laser can engage “rockets, artillery, and mortars.”
Advantages of Laser Weapons:-
⚫ They transmit lethal force at the speed of light that gives them the capability to engage distant high speed targets immediately after detection with very short reaction time,
⚫ A laser has a near-perfectly straight trajectory, their beams are not affected by the constraining effects of gravity or atmospheric which make it much more accurate in finding its target,
⚫ They are extremely precise enabling low-profile and covert operations capabilities the with less collateral damage.
⚫ Lasers are silent and invisible to the human eye and are thus hard to detect by the enemy,
⚫ Though the Initial installation costs are high but after deployment, laser weapons provide cost-effective engagements. and
⚫ Unlike a traditional gun, lasers don’t run out of bullets.
Disadvantages:-
⚫ Lasers have their downside too as they take a lot of energy and have difficulty penetrating haze, dust, smoke and materials with anti-laser coatings
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